R-Motorsport comments ahead of the DTM season opener at Hockenheim

01.05.2019: Jake Dennis: “During the tests at Jerez, Estoril and most recently at the Lausitzring with our Aston Martin Vantage DTM, I learnt a lot about the handling of a DTM car. Compared to a GT3, it has been a new challenge for me as a rookie

Jake Dennis: “During the tests at Jerez, Estoril and most recently at the Lausitzring with our Aston Martin Vantage DTM, I learnt a lot about the handling of a DTM car.

Compared to a GT3, it has been a new challenge for me as a rookie to go to the limit in a DTM car with its superior downforce and much better power-to-weight ratio. I’ve enjoyed that right from the start, and I’m really looking forward to my first race.”

Paul Di Resta: “There are several months of hard work behind us in the development of the Aston Martin Vantage DTM to race maturity. Thanks to the team for the efforts over the past few weeks, especially with the all the weekend and late night shifts.

I now hope that, with the experience I bring from the past nine years in the DTM and with my efforts so far this year, I have been able to make a decisive contribution to us having a good and problem-free start to the season. It would be great for everyone in the team who has worked so hard if we were able to get a respectable result in the season opener.”

Daniel Juncadella: “I’m really looking forward to the season opener and what it means for our new DTM project. Although I already have five years of DTM experience, there are some new challenges posed by the change in regulations, most notably tyre management with the more powerful turbocharged engines and the start-up procedure due to the elimination of launch control.

We have obviously practised this during the tests, but it will only be at Hockenheim that we see where we stand after the shorter preparation time compared to the opposition.”

Ferdinand von Habsburg: “With me being the youngest and least experienced member of the squad, I have the biggest learning process ahead of me. Nonetheless, I’m aiming to acquire enough experience in the shortest possible time so that I can quickly establish myself in this field of the world’s top touring car drivers and post some respectable results.

I am really looking forward to lining up on the grid for the first race in the Aston Martin Vantage DTM, and I am honoured by the confidence that R-Motorsport have shown in recruiting me for the DTM.”

Dr. Florian Kamelger, R-Motorsport Team Principal: “It is an amazing achievement for every single person in the team that we are in the starting line-up at Hockenheim. The engineering team led by Hubert Hügle together with the organisational, marketing and communications team have worked extremely hard in the run-up to the season.

In being ready to compete at the Hockenheimring in such a short time since we announced our intention to contest the DTM in late October last year, we have all achieved something unique in the history of the series. We can be proud of that.

An important prerequisite for this was the founding of Vynamic GmbH which, as a joint venture between AF Racing and HWA, is responsible for the project and manages all the operational aspects. The expertise of both partners has laid the foundation for the rapid advancement of our DTM project.

Now we look forward to the first race, although as a small team, we’re not in for an easy ride against the established competition. But surprises are always possible.”

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